Report Contents
What OIG Inspected
OIG inspected the executive direction, program and policy implementation, and resource management operations of Embassy N’Djamena.
What OIG Recommends
OIG made 25 recommendations: 22 recommendations to Embassy N’Djamena, 1 to the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, 1 to the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, and 1 to the Bureau of Human Resources.
In its comments on the draft report, the Department concurred with all 25 recommendations. OIG considers all 25 recommendations resolved. The Department’s response to each recommendation, and OIG’s reply, can be found in the Recommendations section of this report. The Department’s formal written responses are reprinted in their entirety in Appendix B.
What OIG Found
- The Chargé d’Affaires and the Deputy Chief of Mission led Embassy N’Djamena in a professional and collaborative manner.
- Long-term staffing gaps affected the embassy’s ability to pursue its policy objectives and manage risk.
- The embassy’s management of foreign assistance grants did not meet Department of State standards.
- One of the embassy’s American Spaces did not fulfill its purpose as a strategic venue for public diplomacy programming to advance U.S. foreign policy objectives.
- Internal control issues in general services operations and facility management adversely affected Embassy N’Djamena operations.
- The Department had excess real properties that could be sold, resulting in an estimated $7.1 million that could be put to better use.
- Spotlight on Success: Embassy N’Djamena successfully launched an innovative foreign assistance program in 2019 to track and monitor Chadian elephant herds to protect them from poaching, advancing important U.S. foreign policy priorities related to rule of law, counterterrorism, and economic development.
Report Terms
Report Recommendations
Embassy N’Djamena should bring its management of foreign assistance grants into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy N’Djamena, in coordination with the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, should implement a strategic plan for the new embassy compound’s American Center that meets Department standards.
The Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs should require that a Regional Educational Advising Coordinator visit Embassy N’Djamena’s EducationUSA Advising Center to evaluate and certify its level of service.
Embassy N’Djamena should bring documentation of its public diplomacy grants program into compliance with Department standards.
The Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, in coordination with Embassy N’Djamena and the Bureau of African Affairs, should develop and implement a strategy that prioritizes the disposal of Embassy N’Djamena’s excess real property, in order to put funds estimated at $7.1 million to better use.
Embassy N’Djamena should comply with applicable Department overseas motor vehicle safety requirements for chauffeurs and incidental drivers under chief of mission authority.
Embassy N’Djamena should verify data accuracy for its motor vehicle fleet periodically in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy N’Djamena should implement a calibration schedule of its fuel systems in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy N’Djamena should implement procurement and property management processes in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy N’Djamena should document nonexpendable property transfers in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy N’Djamena should use the Integrated Logistics Management System to track all expendable supplies in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy N’Djamena should bring its Contracting Officer’s Representative program into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy N’Djamena should conduct annual reviews of its blanket purchase agreements in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy N’Djamena should conduct and submit an annual housing market survey in accordance with Department requirements.
Embassy N’Djamena, in coordination with the Bureau of Overseas Buildings Operations, should complete all outstanding elevator repairs needed to obtain a current certificate of use for each elevator, in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy N’Djamena should bring its safety, health, and environmental management program into compliance with Department standards.
Embassy N’Djamena should bring the fire protection program into compliance with Department standards.
The Bureau of Human Resources should respond to Embassy N’Djamena’s request for proposed changes to the local compensation plan.
Embassy N’Djamena should establish a schedule that allows the alternate cashier to work periodically as the principal cashier in accordance with Department guidelines.
Embassy N’Djamena should conduct monthly unannounced cash counts at unpredictable times during each month in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy N’Djamena, in coordination with the Bureaus of Diplomatic Security and Information Resource Management, should comply with all pending cybersecurity recommendations from Department reviews.
Embassy N’Djamena should require its local Information Technology Configuration Control Board to review the American Center commercial cloud application in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy N’Djamena should implement a records management program that complies with Department standards.
Embassy N’Djamena should implement monthly testing of the emergency action committee radio network in accordance with Department standards.
Embassy N’Djamena should update the communications appendix in its emergency action plan.